Recurrent epistaxis as a presenting sign of androgen-sensitive metastatic prostate cancer

Lim HY, Agarwal AM, Agarwal N, Ward JH
Correspondence: Dr John H Ward, john.ward@hci.utah.edu

ABSTRACT
Prostate cancer is a common cancer, especially among elderly men. It is sometimes not diagnosed until it has metastasised. Disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC) can be the presenting manifestation of prostate cancer, and can present with bleeding (varying from isolated epistaxis to generalised haemorrhage), intravascular thrombosis, or both. A case of recurrent epistaxis from DIC due to metastatic prostate cancer occurring in an 84-year-old Caucasian man is presented, and the pathophysiology and management of DIC in association with androgen-sensitive prostate cancer are discussed.

Keywords: androgen-sensitive prostate cancer, disseminated intravascular coagulation, epistaxis, metastatic prostate cancer, prostate cancer
Singapore Med J 2009; 50(5): e178-e180